News   |   Sign Up   |   A LEVER FOR SCALE

New Alliance 50-State Report Shows Progress and Power Building at State Level in 2024 

Each year, the Alliance for Early Success surveys early childhood policy advocates representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia to create its annual 50-State Early Childhood Policy Progress and Landscape Report. The 2024 report, released in January, shows that support for state early childhood policies and funding continued to be strong, with policymakers from every region and political landscape acting to improve their early childhood policies.

In fact, all states with a 2024 legislative session reported a policy win, and 83 percent reported a win that included an increase in state funding. Many appropriated state funds to close federal funding gaps, signaling the importance of investing in the early years as a public good, worthy of state revenues. 

Survey results also show that the political climate for improving early childhood policies remains favorable.  Governors, state legislators, and state agency administrators are overwhelmingly supportive of improving early childhood policies, and the November elections yielded very little change in political power at the state level. Combined with strong budget projections in most of the states, the climate is ripe for additional wins.

A key piece of the annual report are the state policy landscape profiles which provide—for each state the District—a comprehensive overview of the political, fiscal, demographic, and policy landscape, in addition to more details on the policy wins in the past year.

“Overall, the report paints a picture of opportunity for continued progress on behalf of young children and their families,” says Helene Stebbins, the Alliance’s executive director. “While media attention in 2025 will likely be on the power shift in Washington, DC, momentum will continue in state capitals to help young children thrive and flourish. The Alliance for Early Success will continue to support and connect a network of early childhood policy advocates, so that they can build on their 2024 progress.”  

The Alliance for Early Success is a national 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that is changing the culture and increasing the effectiveness of early childhood policy advocacy in all 50 states and the District of Columbia with three key strategies: stable, flexible funding that allows advocacy organizations to be agile, responsive, and effective; access to a highly responsive, capacity-building community of experts and peers; and shared experiences that cultivate community, trusted relationships, and truth-telling. Learn more about the Alliance at www.earlysuccess.org. 

Stay in the loop by joining the Alliance news and invitations list: